Cricket: Fleming's role is key for selectors

Stephen Fleming is regarded as the Black Caps' best test batsman.

Among a handful of decisions looming for New Zealand's selectors ahead of the first test against England this week two stand out - who bats at No 3 and the bowling mix.

There are three contenders for the pivotal role behind the openers, but only two realistic options.

Stephen Fleming is the team's best batsman, and Mathew Sinclair's test average is better in that position than lower down. His big innings have all been in that spot.

Ross Taylor has his fans, but considering he's going to start only his third test and has much work to do to secure a place in the longest form of the game, that holds little appeal.

Fleming, coming in behind openers Matthew Bell and Jamie How, offers a more secure look against the England new ball swing men, Matthew Hoggard and, if fit, Ryan Sidebottom. Then there's the school of thought that the team's top batsman should be at No 4. An interesting debate looms on that point.

Sinclair's test career in recent years has been spent sitting on a sharp fence. His has tended to be the first name out of the hat when changes are mooted. "The yo-yo continues," he quipped yesterday. You get his point, although in fairness to the panel, Sinclair has simply held his place from the Bangladesh series, despite a wretched 47 in the second test in Wellington when the Bangladeshis seemed to enter a non-aggression pact with the Central Districts batsman, dropping three catches in less time than it takes to listen to Hey Jude.

And selectorial concern over New Zealand's batting won't hurt Grant Elliott's chances of a test debut on Wednesday.

The South African-born Elliott, 28, is the surprise pick in the squad of 13. The panel view him as a batting allrounder, with a good technique and the ability to swing the ball.

His first-class batting average is an average 27.3 and he has taken 53 wickets in 35 games, but talk among the players has him rated better than those figures suggest.

Any initial thoughts that Elliott and offspinner Jeetan Patel were the logical pair to be jettisoned before the start might be premature.

National selector Dion Nash said last night Elliott deserved his chance for the simple reason that "his name kept popping up" at selection meetings over a period of time, indicating a consistent level of performance.

"We think he's a very mature cricketer," Nash said. "He's got a very good head and that's one of his upsides. He offers balance, his batting technique against England [in Dunedin last week] was one of the better ones and with his bowling, being able to swing it provides a lot of options."